Anyone can smile, be loving, and appear stable when life's ship is sailing on smooth seas, under sunny skies! Heroes are made in times of crisis, when, from the crowded ranks of the ordinary, she takes the lead, points the way, and rallies others to success. The theory is that ordinary carbon atoms - one of the most common elements on earth - are transformed by extreme heat and pressure into the crystalline gems, diamonds, that are both industrially useful and beautifully decorative. Of course, there are carbon atoms compressed into beds of coal, too!
Paul, a man whose life was fairly safe and routine within the mainstream of his community, heard God's call and responded with obedience. If you've read the book of the Acts of the Apostles, you know that from that day on the road to Damascus where he first made a commitment to the Lord, his life was filled with difficulty as he took up the challenge to take the message about Jesus Christ, the Risen Lord, to the Empire. At one point, it got so tough, Paul thought it was 'game over.' He reflected on that experience in his 2nd letter to the Corinthians: "We were crushed and completely overwhelmed, and we thought we would never live through it. In fact, we expected to die. But as a result, we learned not to rely on ourselves, but on God who can raise the dead." - 2 Corinthians 1:8-9 (NLT)
He is describing the stress and pressure of his calling. And what was that? In addition to being repeatedly arrested, tossed out of cities, even beaten; he was often criticized by people in the very churches he formed, under attack spiritually, and simply exhausted by the rigors of travel. He says, "we were under great pressure," and in from that pressure- a diamond, useful and beautiful, emerged from the life of the former Pharisee. I just love his wry commentary - "we were forced to trust God totally—not a bad idea since he’s the God who raises the dead!" (The Message)
When we are subjected to pressure, how we respond results from a combination of factors; personality, training, past experience, and spiritual depth. Of those, only one is beyond our control- personality. We can prepare to emerge from life's pressures as a gem for Christ; if we will allow ourselves to be schooled and patterned by the disciplines of the Spirit, if we will use the experiences of life to grow, and if we will let God develop real spiritual character and depth in us. In reality, most of us live carefully and safely, avoiding situations that might subject us to pressure whenever possible. Some don't respond affirmatively to God's call and offer of spiritual gifts because they know that they will be held to account, that He demands the best and highest, and that they will have to say, 'no,' to Self interests. Some avoid conflict instead of confronting wrong and/or evil. For some, should life become difficult, their response is to complain, whine, and wait for someone to ride to rescue. But others rise to the occasion, seeking God's powerful Presence, and they emerge as heroes of the Kingdom!
Are you courageously embracing God's callings? Is the result that you find yourself under pressure, criticized, stressed by multiple responsibilities, pushed past what you thought were your limits of endurance? Trust God!
Do what people who become heroes do.
Prepare for challenge with discipline. Don't whine!
Build a team that gives support. God doesn't build His work on Lone Rangers.
Know when to take a strategic retreat for restoration. Even Jesus allowed for 'down time.'
Focus on the goal.
And, most importantly, let God be God and trust Him who 'raises the dead!'
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